TheRamblingWombat Sydney

Tank Stream Fountain

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By way of explanation, what soon became known as the Tank Stream was a small stream that ran from a swamp to the west of present day Hyde Park to Sydney Cove (now Circular Quay). This stream was the original source of fresh water for Sydney. In fact, its existence was the reason Sydney Cove became the site of Australia’s first European Settlement in 1788, as opposed to Botany Bay, the other location considered for the initial establishment of Sydney. Continue reading “Tank Stream Fountain” →

TheRamblingWombat Sydney

Australia Proclaimed For Britain

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On 26 January 1788 the First Fleet, a flotilla of eleven ships from Britain, anchored in Sydney Cove – named after Lord Sydney the British Home Secretary (now called Circular Quay). Captain Arthur Phillip, in charge, stepped ashore and, in a simple ceremony, hoisted the Union Flag (Jack), saluted it, and proclaimed the settlement of the colony of New South Wales for His Majesty King George III. The remainder of the continent was subsequently settled and claimed for Britain and today the 26th January, Australia Day, is a public holiday across Australia, marking the birthday of modern Australia. Continue reading “Australia Proclaimed For Britain” →

TheRamblingWombat Sydney

AMP Building – Sydney’s First Skyscraper

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My observant reader will have noticed that this is the second building to which I have ascribed the accolade of ‘Sydney’s first skyscraper’. You may have noticed though that there was a question mark behind the title of the other review – Culwulla Chambers – Sydney’s First Skyscraper?. As it happened the Culwulla Chambers, while being the tallest building in the city (and remaining so until 1961), actually did not fit the then definition of a skyscraper as it lacked the requisite steel frame. Continue reading “AMP Building – Sydney’s First Skyscraper” →

TheRamblingWombat Sydney

In Between Two Worlds

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Through a combination of cloud murals/etchings and thirty hanging silver spirit figures artist Jason Wing, of Aboriginal and Chinese descent, made a stunning transformation of the 200 metres long Kimber Lane in Chinatown, in 2013. Lying, as it does, at the rear of and between two blocks of mainly restaurants I had (before the transformation) become accustomed to the sight and smell of mounds of rubbish and food scraps in Kimber Lane as I would hurriedly make my way by of a night. Continue reading “In Between Two Worlds” →